With travel set to reopen across the UAE imminently, many people will be thinking about taking a flight in the near future.
Passengers set to travel in or out of Dubai International Airport can expect several changes to their journey as social-distancing measures have been introduced throughout the terminals.
Marhaba plans to help travellers navigate the measures by offering new services that include baggage disinfection and socially distanced meet and greets.
The airport hospitality brand, which is part of dnata, now allows travellers that pre-book its home check-in and bag drop services to have their luggage disinfected.
All luggage collected by Marhaba's baggage partner, Dubz, will be done so in a contactless manner. Bags will then be treated with disinfectant to remove any germs and provides protection from microbes for up to 72 hours.
Marhaba's home check-in process also allows people to complete any preflight procedures from their own house or hotel room.
Socially distanced agents will complete all paperwork for check-in including printing boarding passes, weighing and tagging baggage, and delivering it to the airport for disinfection and loading.
Airport meet and greets
These services are designed to cutting down waiting times at the airport. Travellers who book airport fast-track or meet and greet services will be welcomed at the airport by staff wearing face masks who will speed them through immigration.
Having recently restarted its chauffeur services in Dubai, Marhaba says that all chauffeur-driven cars undergo strict disinfecting procedures after each trip. The number of passengers in each vehicle is limited to two in standard cars, or three in SUVs. However, large families can still travel together, as per current UAE regulations.
Bookings for the home check-in, baggage disinfection, chauffeur, and meet and greet services start from Dh237.
Pre-flight Covid-19 tests
Dubz has also introduced a home Covid-19 test service for travellers.
In partnership with Mediclinic, the company can arrange for in-home Covid-19 testing ahead of flights.
After booking the service, a polymerase chain reaction swab test will be carried out by a medical professional at customers' homes. These tests are the most accurate type for detecting Covid-19 and are suitable for all travellers, including children.
Once the test has been taken, results are digitally delivered within 24 hours.
If tests are negative, Dubz will send check-in agents to process travellers for their flight and collect luggage for disinfection. Positive results will be communicated to the Dubai Health Authority.
Prices for the home-testing service are controlled by Mediclinic to follow regulatory standards, but anyone booking the service with Dubz will get a 22 per cent discount.
Several destinations, including Sri Lanka and the Seychelles, will require recent Covid-19 negative test results from travellers before allowing entry into the country.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
